Fire-extinguisher



llNiTEn STATES PATIENT nrrcn.

THOMAS F. HANDLY, OF ALLEGI-IENY, PENNSYLVANIA FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

` SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,013, dated September 10,1895.

Application filed September 13,1893. Serial No. 485,392. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS F. IIANDLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Extinguishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactl description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication.

My invention relates to-an improved automatic tire-extinguisher, and it consists in certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a side elevation, partly in section, of an irnproved automatic fire-extinguisher which is constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 `is an enlarged detailed side elevation, part of which :is in section, of the top portion of my extinguisher, showing the automatic means for discharging the acid or chemicals into the solution contained in the body of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan View of the cage for holding the acid bottle. Fig.

4 is a perspective view of the cap used to confine the seal of the acid bottle. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the nozzle used on the discharge-hose. Fig. 6 isa sectional side elevation of the cap or thimble arranged over the orifice, adapted-tothe automatically removed by the pressure generated within the apparatus when the extinguisher is first put in operation. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the hose connection with the apparatus.

To put my invention into practice and thereby construct an automatically operated portable fire-extinguisher, I provide a cylindrical vessel l of a suitable diameter and length, having a rounded top titted with a large screw cap or cover 9. This vessel 1 is itted with a bailor handle 2, attached below the center by means of pivots 3 in such a m'anner that when the apparatus is lifted by the said bail the same will reverse or turn bottom upward, as the center of gravity is above the connection between the said handle and the vessel 1. Attached at suitable points near the base of the vessel l are spring-clips 4, which, when `therein a bottle 12.

the extinguisher reverses itself, grips the bail 2 and confines the same therein until released by pressing the clips inward. Connected at a suitable point near the top of the apparatus, and in communication with the interior of the vessel 1, is a rubber hose 5, fitted atits free end with a tapering nozzle 6. This nozzle 6 is provided with a threaded end 8 to connect with a ferrule attached to the hose 5 and having arranged over its tapering end a thilnble or cover 7. This thimble or cover 7 is used for the purpose of excluding foreign matter from the nozzle and to confine within the hose 5 any drip or portion of the solution that may be discharged into the hose while being conveyed to a fire. By thus arranging thethi'mble 7 on the nozzle 6 the same willbe removed by the pressure of gas generated in the extinguisher immediately upon the use of the same.

Attached to the under side of the cap 9, closing the mouth of the vessel 1, is a cage 11, constructed of wire, capable of holding loosely This cage 11 is formed with a shoulder 16 to limit the movement of the bottle 12, and at the base 18 with an opening, to allow the contents of the vessel l to have free access to the bottom of the bottle 12 and thereby aid the momentum of the same when the' extinguisher is reversed or turned bottom upward. Tolseal the mouth of the bottle 12 the same is provided with an open cap 13, (see Fig. 4.,) attached in position by means of a screw-thread formed about the neck of the said bottle, and used to coniine in position a mica or very thin glass or other disk of a suitable material, which will be easily broken.4 To open this seal 14 the cap 9 is provided with a spike or barb 15, of suitable shape, and located at the center of the under side of the said cap 9, and projecting downward within a short distance of the seal 14|E and directly over the center of the same. If deemed necessary, a heavy leaden washer 17 may be placed beneath the bottle to add-additional weight and increase the momentum. A handle 10, formed on the top of the cap 9, will be found useful when mov ing the extinguisher from place to place without putting the same in operation. By connecting the hose 5 with the apparatus in the manner shown at Fig. 7 on the drawings, the

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same Will be prevented from collapsing or flattening at that point, and thereby become hardened or set to that shape should the extinguisher remain idle or the hose 5 undisturbed for a long period, and as the curvature of the connection is such as to be in line with the hose when in use, the kink usually formed at that point will be straightened -and leave an unobstructed passage the full capacity of the hose.

In operation, Water mixed With bicarbonate of soda is introduced into the apparatus through the opening at the top by removing the cap 9, and the acid bottle 12 and said cap 9 replaced in position, which will render the extinguisher ready for use. Should a fire occur the extinguisher is lifted from its stand by the bail 2, and as the center of gravity is above its connection with the body of the apparatus the same reverses itself, which Will cause the bottle 12 to fall against the barb or spike 14 until stopped by the shoulder 16, formed in the cage 11, thereby piercing or otherwise fracturing the seal 14, and permit the contents of the said bottle 12 to mingle with the solution in the apparatus. This mixing of the acid in the bottle 12 and bicarbonate of soda in solution With Water instantly generates a gas-pressure Within the apparatus, which forces the thimble 7 from the nozzle 6 at the rst discharge of the fluid.

Vhen the apparatus has been thus reversedl or turned bottom upward, the bail 2 engages with the clips 4 at either side and renders the same rigid with the body of the apparatus, Which Will permit the operator to easily handle the extinguisher.

In this device there are no valves, cocks,or other parts to become corroded by the non-use of the extinguisher, which is entirely automatic in its operation, and gives notice of successful Working the moment the same is reversed by lifting the apparatus by the bail or handle. By thus sealing the bottle 12 the acid therein is prevented from escaping, and the solution in the vessel excluded from the said bot# tle when the extinguisher is roughly handled while being transported on fire-trucks, dac. The shoulder 16, formed in the cage 11, will limit the movement of the bottle 12 and keep the mouth of the same away from the cap 9-` in order that the acid may freely ow through the opening made by the spike or barb. The spike or barb 15 may be formed with any style of barb to pierce the seal14, and either attached to or formed integral with the cap 9. By thus pivoting the bail 2 beloW the center of gravity the same Will be applicable to other extinguishers of various constructions.

This same extinguishing apparatus such as described may, if desired, be suspended to the ceiling in a like manner With the bucket above described, with a slight modification, such as providing the cap or cover 9 with a sprinkler to spray the solution about a room or building.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination wit-h a device for breaking the seal of the acid bottle substantially as described, a heavy weight or Washer arranged beneath the said bottle to increase the velocity when dropped by gravity, as described. y

2. In a fire extinguisher the combination with the receptacle, of a cap having secured thereto a barb, acage extending downwardly from the cap, and having shoulders to limit the movement of the bottle, the mouth of said bottle having a breakable disk covering and a weight arranged beneath the bottle increasing the velocity of the drop of the bottle.

3. In combination With a receptacle, of a Wire cage suspended therein, open at the sides and bottom, a bottle resting in the cage having a breakable disk cover, a barb arranged above and in alignment with the mouth of the bottle, and a shoulder on the cage for limiting 'the movement of the bottle, and a Weight on the bottom of the bottle for increasing the velocity of the drop, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature this 24th day of July, A. D. 1893.

THOMAS F. IIANDLY. [L. s]

In presence of- ALBERT J. WALKER, M. E. HARRISON. 

